Stone mounting for bracelets or other articles



June 6, 1950 F. w. ENGEL 2,510,774

STONE MOUNTING FOR BRACELETS OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed Jul 21, 1949 riwiizaf aid "4J2 Patented June 6, 1950 STONE MOUNTING FOR BRACELETS OR OTHER ARTICLES Frederick W. Engel, Jamaica, N. Y., assignor to Engel Brothers, New York, N. Y., a partnership Application July 21, 1949, Serial No. 105,987

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to bracelets and more particularly to means for mounting and retaining stones in the individual linked members of a bracelet.

The main object of the invention is the provision of novel, simple and practical means for mounting and securing a stone in each of the linked members of a bracelet, in such manner that the stone will be securely held in its setting and kept clean in that dirt is excluded from the undersides of the stone. In ordinary mountings of the class referred to, the stone is held only by the opposed side walls of the link housing so that it is not only subject to longitudinal movement along the housing but also to soiling of the undersicles of the stone or scratching thereof. Since such stones are usually provided with foil on their undersides in order to maintain their sparkling effect, any injury to the foil reduces or destroys the sparkle of the stone.

The above broad as Well as additional and more specific objects will be c arified in the following description, wherein characters of reference refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intend d solel for the purpose of illustration, and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instant bracelet worn on the wrist.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of one of the link housings in which the stones are mounted, prior to linking the housings together.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the arcuate eyelets used in linking successive housings together.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the housing of Fig. 2 provided at each end with an eyelet such as shown in Fig. 3 and end ears of the housing turned down against the eyelets.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but shows a plurality of housings linked together instead of only the one housing shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the auxiliary insert which, in combination with the linked housings above mentioned, constitutes the essence of the instant invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a pair of adjacent linked housings, showing one of the housings with the said insert mounted therein.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the stones which are mounted in the said linked housings.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9, showing the foil covering the undersides of the stone.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a pair of adjacent linked housings with the stones mounted therein.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l5 indicates a bracelet of the type referred to, composed of a plurality of linked housings l6 each having a stone l'l mounted therein, each stone having a coating of foil l8 on its undersurfaces, as shown in Fig. 10.

Each housing I6 is stamped out of a sheet me al blank into the form shown in Fig. 2, and includes the bottom wall IS, the opposed side walls 20, and the opposed end ears or tabs 2|, the side walls having co-planar ridges 22 formed on their inner sides near the top thereof.

Each housing I6 is linked to its adjacent hous-r ing by means of an arched sheet metal eyelet 23 which includes the frame 24 and the opening or window 25 therethrough. As shown in Figs. 4 and. 5, each tab 2| of each housing I6 is passed through the opening 25 of an eyelet 23, and the tabs are then doubled back against the floor l9, and the tab 2| on one end of the next adjacent housing I6 is then also inserted through the opening 25 and doubled back. In this manner, the successive housings 16 are linked together and are pivotal through an arch with respect to each other.

Ordinarily the stones I! are mounted in the housings I 6 and supported merely between the ridges 22 of the walls 20, as shown in Fig. 13, the upper edges of the walls 20 being turned in to retain the stone. It is apparent that in this common form of mounting, the stone is subject to movement longitudinally of the housing l6, and the bottom surfaces of the stone are exposed to dirt and subject to becoming scratched or worn.

This invention proposes the use of the insert shown in Fig. 6, this insert comprising a sheet or strip of any suitable material, such as metal, deformed into a pair of adjacent portions or planes 2! at an angle to each other; as illustrated, this angle is obtuse, but it may of course be acute line 3 or even a right angle. Each plane 2! has an opening 28 therethrough, and the extremities on end edges 29 of the insert are turned in toward each other at such an angle that the edges 29 lie in mutually parallel planes.

An insert 26 is inserted into each housing It in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 12, with the: peak 39 of; the angular insert heing positioned substantially midway of the length of the housing 16 and transverse with respect thereto and in contact with or positioned slightly above the floor 19. In thus positioning the insert, the: rounded doubled back tabs register in the opene ings 28 of the insert 26 and thus serve to maim tain the insert in the position descrihedt The edge extremities 29 thus also provide end walls for the mounting, and mom insertionrot the stone IT as shown in Fig. 12, and turning inthe edges of the sidewalls 20 above the ridges 22, the stone is held not. only by these side walls 20 but also by the. end walls; 259: pmsvidedl by the' i'nsert 26 as well as having the undersicles of the V's/tune slmportedl and protected the planes 21.

Thus. the stone isi'locl ed. the. hausing 1 55 on alzlifeur sides and is. prevented: from any movewent, either lhngitndinall or transverse; with-respect to the housing. It is, to be noted that in retelling. to the portions 27: of. the insert??? as planes, it not: intended ta limit these; portions to absolutely fiat members, as they be 30 of said bottom walls, said tabs being, doubledsubstantially against said. bottom wall thereby providing transverse bulges adjacentsaid end edges.- ot the bottom wall, and an. insenlt, said inseam eomiprisingi a,- stnip hemu at an. angle less than. a straight angle. intermediate its length thereby presiding a transverse peak thereon; the portions oi said strip on the: sides of said. peak having openings; therethizough, the extremeedge 4 of each of said portions of said strip being bent at an angle to said portion, said last-named angle having a degree such that said extreme edges of said portions lie in substantially parallel planes, said insert being positioned in said housing with said peak at right angles to said side walls and said bulges registering in said insert openings and thereby positioning said insert with: said extremesedges thereof forming end Walls' for said housing positioned at right angles to said side walls of the housing, the cup-like recess formed bysaid insert and said side walls being receptive ot. a. stone having a bottom contour substantially similar to said recess.

2-. A mounting for a stone, comprising a housing having a bottom wall, opposed side walls extendingupward. from said bottom wall, transverse bulges adjacent the end edges of the bottom wall, and an insert, said insert comprising a strip bent at an angle less than. a straight angle intermediate its: length thereby providing a transverse peah theeeon, the portions oi. said strip on the sides of said peaks haying. openings, therethrough, the extreme edge of each of said portions. oi said strip being bent,- atan. angle to. the said portion, said. last-named angle having a degree such that said extreme edges, of said portions lie sub.- stantially parallel planes; said. insert. being no.- sitioned in saidhousing, with said. peak atright angles to said side. walls. and said'bulges register.- ing. insaid insert openings. and thereby positioning. said. insert with said extremesedges thereof forming end walls. for said. housing. positioned. at rightangles tosaid, side walls oi the. housing, the cup-like recess formed by said insert and said side: walls, being, receptive of a. stone having a bottom. contour substantially similar to said recess.

- FREDERICK W1. ENGELi REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date I 1,544,619 Wakefield July '7, 1925 Kestenman Nov; 15, 19311 

